Well, when I went to title this entry I used the same title as I did for my new year entry last year...which proves that although I haven't written in a long time obviously I still think the same! Haha. Anyways, Welcome to 2013!!!
Looking back at the last time I wrote I realize it was right before my life got crazy busy, and lots of new things happened...funny how that works isn't it? I'm sorry that my tendency has been to write only in the boring times of my life lol. That will change this year I hope!
To give you the Coles Notes version on the last 3/4 of my year last year...
I shot a wedding with one of my best friends...then a week later I got to shoot his wedding!
I got to catch up with an old friend, and had a blast doing it! Shot S and K's wedding with her :)
Spent a couple of weekends out around Castlegar, Creston, and Trail. Decided one day I will move out that way, because it's beautiful! Got caught in the most intense rainstorm ever...and loved it! It was seriously the best!
I moved...again. This time right into the Bigger City :S
Summer hit! I got a cat, edited wedding pictures, unpacked a little, edited wedding pictures, worked, edited wedding pictures, got to go to Sesame Street Live again, went to a streetdance, went back to do more wedding picture editing...I'm sure you get the idea!
C and I had a Canada Day party that consisted of 30 something people in our tiny basement suite. Good times! We went up to Kuipers Peak and got to watch 3 different sets of fireworks over the lake. It was beautiful!
On the August Long Weekend there was a YSA conference again. This time I didn't plan it, so I was a little more free during it. I got to spend much of the weekend catching up with friends I hadn't seen in a while...which is always the best part of any conference!
The week after the conference was a historic weekend for the YSA out here as the Kelowna YSA Incubator Branch was formed within the Kelowna 2nd Ward. For months prior to this I was constantly trying to put rumours that I was being called as the Relief Society President to rest. But alas...they were true. I was terrified, excited, and feeling somewhat ready for the challenge as I accepted the call on Aug 12. I had no idea what I was in for! Haha.
September brought another wedding to shoot, a trip home to see my family, and the decision to begin preparations to go through the Temple.
October gave me many wonderful memories leading up to my 25th birthday! General Conference was incredible, and exciting, with many wonderful talks, and the historic announcement of the minimum Missionary age being lowered. Thanksgiving included me making my first Turkey at my house, discovering the need to one day marry a man who knows how to carve a turkey so it doesn't end up a shredded mess lol, a Beautiful KVR walk with many wonderful stories as friendships were built, and a Potluck Thanksgiving Dinner with some of the YSA and the Garrett's. After Thanksgiving came some super busy weeks, including one of the toughest weeks of my year from which I was only saved by a date getting postponed. I got to sing in a show at the Bike Shop Cafe, and was blessed to have a wonderful friend come to listen :) I also had the chance to go to The City for a Sunday to attend the farewell of a good friend as he left on his Mission, and then out to the Coast for a Halloween Dance - which was the first dance ever that all three of us sisters got to attend together, and a great Activity weekend including a super muddy trip through a corn maze. My birthday was wonderful from start to finish, filled with lots of friends and laughter.
In November I got to go through the Temple for my first time. The preparations leading up to it seemed to go extremely fast, and I am grateful for that because it gave me less chances to worry. It was an absolutely incredible day, and I was very blessed to have both of my parents, and many close friends who have influenced my life there to share that day with me. It is a day I will never forget! I also began to wonder around November if maybe my time the the Bigger City was coming to an end and whether or not it was time for me to start thinking about moving on...
December was the perfect end to a very full year! It began with a dress rehearsal and performance of a Christmas Cantata that we had been practicing since September. I was given the amazing opportunity to perform Mary's Solo, as she learned that she was to bear the Son of God. It was such a fantastic experience I cannot even describe it beyond just saying that it was so humbling. I was blessed to get to sing beside a wonderful friend/amazing man, and I couldn't have asked for a better experience! Also at the beginning of December a good friend ended up in the hospital for a week. I am so grateful that she is still with us today and doing better than ever! Around the middle of the month I learned a lot about myself as I went on the best first date I have ever been on. I am so grateful for chances like that to not only have fun, and get to know someone else, but to understand a little bit more about me too. A week before Christmas I got laid off. It took me by surprise and I had a tough time dealing with it to begin with, but in a way it was an answer to prayer. I found a new position 2 days later, and signed a one year contract with them...so I guess my answer was that it's not time for me to leave yet! Christmas was wonderful, and I am thankful that I got to spend it with my family. My brothers got to come back to the Bigger City with me for a week after Christmas too, which was fun!
So that brings me all the way to now! It was another year full of learning and growth...and I am anticipating that the year ahead will bring more with it as well. But that is why we are here, right?!
Until next time...
Z
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